Jean-Bernard Restout Paris 1732 - 1797

An old label on the reverse of the stretcher reads, Portrait de Soufflot / Par Restout le fils.  The sitter is presumably the architect Jacques Germain Soufflot (1713 - 1780) who received his architectural training in Rome and spent the early part of his career in Lyon.  He quickly became one of the leading Neo-classical architects in 18th century France, receiving many significant private and public commissions, such as the Château Bourbon (circa 1742) for the Soubry family, and Lyon's Théâtre (1751-6).  After 1755, Soufflot settled in Paris, where his most important commission was the church of Ste-Geneviève, now the Panthéon, begun in 1755, and completed after his death.

Jean-Bernard Restout was the son of Jean Restout (1692-1768).  In 1758 he won the Prix de Rome and lived in that city until 1746 before returning to his native Paris.  He was agréé into the Academie in 1765 and by 1793 he was made a professeur.  He taught history and portrait paintings.